What to do now?   There are no other OTC inhaler options.  All other options are prescription only.  Most likely, an albuterol inhaler (by prescription) will be the most appropriate alternative.  Here are some options to help with paying for the inhalers: Proair assitance program, Proventil coupon,  Xopenex coupon and Ventolin assistance program.

HFA inhaler switch: HFA inhalers feel quite different then the old inhalers.  The old (CFC) inhalers had a propellent in them so people could “feel” the drug when using it.  The new HFA inhalers have a finer mist so often patients complain they can’t taste/feel the medicine going in….be assured, the medicine is still being delivered! 

If you think your HFA inhaler is broken -please see the article My HFA Inhaler is Broken

How do you feel about Primatene Mist inhalers being taken off the market?  How do you feel about the new HFA inhalers? We would love to hear from you –please leave a comment!

Atorvastatin is now the strongest generic available.  It lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) more then any other generic available.  The most used statin medications are simvastatin (generic), Crestor (brand) and Lipitor.  If you physician switches you from one of the other statin drugs, expect a change in the strength of the medications.  For example,  simvastatin 40mg =atorvastatin 20mg and Crestor 5mg =atorvastatin 20mg.

Just a heads up, the price won’t change drastically for at least 6 more months.  This is because only one manufacturer releases a generic to begin with.  We have to wait for a few manufacturers to come out with the generic to drive down the price.  The Lipitor $4 co-pay card can continue to be used at least through 2012…currently Lipitor.com states that it will be usable through 12/31/2012. 

Have you used the $4 Lipitor co-pay card?  Or generic atorvastatin?  Please leave a comment, we would love for you to share your experience!

Here is a question we received about H.Pylori: 

Hi there! This question is NOT for me but for a friend…She has H. Pylori and this is the 2nd time that she’s had it…She doesn’t want to take the reflux meds because, for some crazy reason, it makes her lose hair…She really wants to know how else she can get rid of it…Also, her report now says that it’s “incidental,” does this mean that it’s not serious?
I was tested for it myself, but never had it (I have digestion problems, but not h. pylori)..
Thanks in advance!

My reply:

First some background…

Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is most commonly used IV to treat methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus.  However it can also be used orally to treat clostridium difficile (c.diff). 

C.diff is an intestinal infection that occurs most often in hospitalized patients after treatment with broadspectrum antibiotics.

Treatments for C.diff  include Flagyl (metronidazole) and oral vancomycin.  Typical dose of oral vancomycin is 125mg four times a day for 10 -14 days.

Cost? Vancocin capsules cost about $1,800 for a 14 day treatment -pricey no?!  That is the cash price but even with insurance the copay is typically wicked high!  Well, good news -there is an alternative.  A  hospital outpatient pharmacy (yes, most hospitals have outpatient pharmacies) can provide the IV vancomycin liquid that can be used orally and is much less expensive because it is available in generic.  How less expensive….about $40 for a 14 day treatment (cash price) -that is a savings of about 1,760 bucks!

I have c.diff -now what? Talk with your physician about the options -Flagyl (metronidazole) is a great option because it works well and is on the $4 list at Walmart and Target.  If your physician decides that oral vancomycin is what is needed, then call your local hospital and ask to speak with the outpatient pharmacy.  Typically, the pharmacy will dispense small syringes filled with clear fluid (vancomycin)…the largest amount should be 15mls (1 tablespoon).  Small warning, it doesn’t taste that great -so you may want a chaser after you take it but it does the job and at a fraction of the cost!

How to make it easy:

1) Ask your physician to write for “IV vancomycin fluid 10mg/ml -12.5ml by mouth four times a day for ____days”

2) Call local hospital and ask if they have an outpatient pharmacy -if so, have script filled there (retail/community pharmacies will most likely not be able to provide).

3) Take medicine as prescribed!  And take a deep sigh of relief that you didn’t have to pay $1,800!

Have you taken oral vancomycin?  What do you think -please leave a comment!

Xopenex nebulized solution is super duper popular with pediatricians.  Xopenex (levalbuterol) is only available in brand.  It came out on the market with hopes that it would work better and with less side effects than good ole generic albuterol nebulized solution.

Unfortunately, Xopenex works only just as well as albuterol and has the same side effects.  There are a few patients that tell me that they feel Xopenex causes less aggitation but that hasn’t been proven.

So keep your money and stick with generic albuterol nebulized solution.  Did you know that Xopenex nebulized solution can be FIVE times more expensive than albuterol nebulized solution?  BTW -currently the albuterol 0.083% is on Walmart’s and Target’s $4 lists.

As for HFA inhalers, albuterol is not available in generic any longer but typically albuterol HFA inhalers are less expensive then Xopenex HFAs.

Want to learn more secrets on how to save some money?  Visit our FREE site all about How to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs.

Just a few notes on natural/home remedies…

1.  Natural or home remedies often have quite a bit of anecdotal evidence but no hard scientific fact…   

• Mostly because there is not much money in these remedies, so none of the companies want to  put funding into researching a product that won’t make them too much money.

2.  The FDA (the government agency that approves drugs) does not regulate natural remedies…

• So, the natural/home remedy does not need to prove that they actually work
• The herbs do not need to actually contain the amount of herb that the label states

3.  Natural/home remedies do have side effects!

• Vitamins and herbs are drugs too
• Oftentimes, they will have less side effects because they are not as potent as synthesized drugs

Here are some of the articles (in no particular order)… 

Neti Pot -Helpful or Harmful?

Benefits of Caffeine

Hoodia for Weight Loss

Natural Remedy for Heartburn

Vinegar for Diabetes Type 2

Hangover Remedies

Honey for Cough in Kids

Healthy Vegetarian

Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings

Magnets for Arthritis Pain

Leamonheads for Upset Stomach

Elderberry for the Flu

Treatment for Sebaceous Cyst

If you want to see them all, please see our Natural/Home Remedies Category.

We would love to hear about your natural/home remedies!

Once again, if you want to SAVE MONEY on YOUR MEDICATIONS! Watch our video series *free*

Her antibiotic and pain medications were both around $6-10 -not so bad.  Unfortunately, her 3rd script was for zolpidem (Ambien generic).  It cost about $49 for #30 tabs -yikes!

I happen to carry the discount card that we have available -right now and for *FREE* -and it took her payment from $49 to less than $10!  Sweet -she was quite happy!  

CLICK HERE to get the card info and 90 More Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs and the best part -it is FREE!!!

Now, if you are at the point where you have read everything you can get your hands on about lifestyle changes and OTC options and just NEED SOME HELP!!  Please read on…

You are ready to speak with your physician about prescription drugs –so be ready to have a discussion!  We will review the different options so that you can learn which will work best for you. 

1. Sleeping Aids: These include Lunesta, Ambien, Rozerem and Sonata- they specifically cause people to fall asleep. 

1. Anti-anxiety Meds: Benzodiazepines (like Xanax and Restoril –both available in generic) can be used short term to help with anxiety and sleep issues- they work by “chilling” the person out and making them drowsy.

1. Antidepressants: If anxiety is ongoing -some antidepressants (like Paxil or Celexa) can also work as an anti-anxiety medication too; some specific ones like Elavil, Trazodone and Serzone also have a side effect of causing drowsiness.

So, there are the classes of drugs that can help…now, which ones are best for you?  Things you should think about:  Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or both?  Do you just have trouble sleeping or is it because your mind is racing?

1. Do you have trouble falling asleep? 

   • Ambien (zolpidem) or Sonata (zaleplon)

   • Halcion (triazolam)

2.  Do you have trouble with awakening in the middle of the night?

   • ProSom (estazolam)

   • Restoril (temazepam)

3.  Do you have trouble falling and staying asleep?

   • Ambien CR (zolpidem)

   • Lunesta (escoplicone)

   • Desyrel (trazodone)

   • Serzone (nefazodone)

   • Elavil (amitriptyline)

The good news is that most of these drugs come in generics!

Click for a coupon for Ambien CR.

Speaking of generics and coupons –we have a completely free video course to teach you a ton more ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs NOW!

I wrote an article Moxatag versus Amoxicillin that goes over the new drug Moxatag (best to read the original article first).  This is a follow up, including a link to a coupon for Moxatag.

Please leave a comment below!

Click for Moxatag coupon.

Click here to Learn How to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs.